At about 5:30, the tournament ended. Out of 60 participants Justin was first, I was second (again) and Cassie was third. Soon after we said our good byes and went our separate ways. As I started the long walk home, it stopped raining and I thought things were looking up. How wrong I was. It was late and I was tired so I decided to take a short cut home. I passed up an alley or two and ran between a few buildings. That's when the shit hit the fan.

"Why hello my little nerd. What a pleasant surprise! I've got a friend for you to meet. I call him pain!" It was Rob. I don't know whether or not it was terrible luck or if he was waiting for me, but I walked into a trap. He had two of his goons with him and they were pissed and he believed he had nothing left to lose. Before he had an obviously sarcastic tone with a hint of venom; almost immediately it became a voice of pure spite and hatred. "You cost me my chance at a scholarship, my inheritance, and my GIRLFRIEND! When I'm done with you, you'll be looking OUT YOUR ASS!!!" I later found out his parents told him that if got in serious trouble even one more time, they would cut him out of the will and they were loaded.

I tried to run but I was cornered. I threw a punch in fear but I was caught and turned back. Rob swung and caught me in the gut, knocking the wind out of me. I stumbled back and landed in a bunch of trash cans. As I tried to get up, they jumped on me and started pummeling me. I said my prayers and started preparing to meet my maker. Out of the blue, I heard a resounding "No! This can't happen! I won't let it" It was a haunting yet comforting voice and I thought I was hallucinating but I realized Rob heard it too. I tried to move, but I couldn't. However I didn't need to. I felt a heat in my pocket. There was a light radiating from my deck! I managed to choke out "Wha…? What's happening?" The deck started to move. It floated out of my pocket and floated in front of me with my eyes and those of a stunned Rob locked on it.

I was in shock. Not only was my deck glowing brighter than a 100-watt light bulb, but it floating in mid air. The deck grew brighter and started to float back towards me. Rob and his cronies backed away. I felt more comforted as it got closer, so I reached out to grab it. It went into my hand and it disappeared! I felt a sudden surge of energy flow through my broken body, healing it, making it stronger. As this happened, I felt strong enough to stand.

As I got up I realized that I wasn't standing, I was floating and began glowing with the same light that my deck had! Without knowing or attempting to I spoke. It sounded different from usual, but still me. "Soltari visionary, Come to me!" Some how I knew to extend my hand, the one that my deck used to be in, over my head. A light shot from it, illuminated the ground and from this light came a creature. It appeared to be humanoid, tall, and almost pure white. Strangely enough, the creature seemed to only be half there, as if it were hidden in some strange cloth or it were a tangible shadow. It appeared to be a living version of the card in my deck called the Soltari Visionary.

At this point I was in awe, the goons were back against the wall of the alley and Rob, though standing his ground, was obviously scared shitless. However he managed to sound convincing when he yelled "I don't know what kind of tricks your pulling, but your still gonna DIE!" However the Visionary had other ideas.

Rob charged in a blind rage as if he didn't really see the Visionary standing right in front of him. The being jumped from the ring of light and grabbed Rob by the collar. It slowly and deliberately lifted him up. Rob was utterly confused (for some reason, I could hear his thoughts), but he finally began know why he was being lifted. He saw the visionary, too!

He got a determined look on his face and took a blind swing. The punch was clumsy enough for the visionary to dodge it easily, but he, I think it was a he, just stood still. The blow passed right through him. I felt a wave, like a sudden cold chill, pass though me.

The visionary looked down, where it would have hit, and started to make a sound. It slowly developed in to a full blow guffaw! For some reason I also found this seen incredibly hilarious. I laughed out loud as well. However it hurt. It was a bit surprising, I had the distinct feeling that I was borrowing power from the visionary. It was like I was connected to it. By this point, I had touched down and was standing under my own force. I realized my wounds were still there, but they had stopped bleeding and any swelling had gone down considerably. Some even started to heal over I decided to test my control of the visionary. I yelled, "END THIS NOW, BUT DON'T KILL HIM!" The visionary looked over its shoulder at me and nodded. Rob was trying to wriggle free of its grasp, but it had him to tightly. The visionary simply threw him into the trashcans that I had been in like it was nothing. Rob wasn't seriously hurt but he was definitely knocked out. The cronies took the hint and ran like bats out of hell.

The visionary turned around and looked at me. It took to one knee and said in its haunting voice, "Master, it appears that you are who we thought you were. I must leave you but we will meet again soon." It then faded away, seeming to completely immerse itself in the shadow part of its existence. After it was all done I felt… well… triumphant. However, soon after extremely confused. The reality of what just happened began to sink in and as suddenly as it started, it was over. I felt the light emanating from me end and the "power" leave my body, starting at my feet and finishing at my head. I felt drained and tired, just like before it all happened. My legs were like jelly and I collapsed right where I stood. I felt my wounds that hadn't fully healed begin to seer with pain and begin to bleed again. My deck reappeared in my pocket in the exact position it had been. I vaguely heard police sirens in the distance, but I ignored them. My world faded from pain and confusion, to utter darkness. I knew nothing but that bone chilling darkness…